Mass Effect 3 multiplayer gets free 'Retaliation' DLC next week

Mass Effect 3's multiplayer suite will be bolstered by a new enemy race and unlockables. The "Retaliation" DLC pack will be free to all Mass Effect 3 owners when it launches next week on October 9 – PS3 owners in Europe will have to wait an extra day, October 10.

Retaliation adds the Collectors as a new enemy faction to face off against and new unlockable kits: the Turian Havoc Soldier and Turian Ghost Infiltrator. You'll also be able to unlock new Collector weapons and outfit them with new upgrades, plus BioWare is adding new "hazard" versions of existing maps to Mass Effect 3's multiplayer – certain environmental dangers like sandstorms and lightning will now challenge players in addition to the enemy.

Finally, "Retaliation" adds a new challenge system to multiplayer, a database that chronicles your performance across multiplayer and awards "challenge points" for reaching certain milestones in multiplayer. Players can spend these "challenge points" on new titles and banners to customize their character profile.%Gallery-167509%

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THE COLLECTORS HAVE RETURNED IN MASS EFFECT 3: RETALIATON

The battle to save the galaxy rages on and a familiar foe returns in the largest downloadable content pack to-date for Mass Effect™ 3 multiplayer! Available to download at no additional charge*, Mass Effect 3: Retaliation ups the challenge by adding treacherous environmental hazards to existing maps and will introduce the infamous Collectors as a new enemy faction in multiplayer.

Also making its way into the Mass Effect 3: Retaliation pack is a brand-new challenge system that will reward players for their accomplishments in multiplayer. This new feature will give players the ability to track and compare progress across different multiplayer challenges.

Mass Effect 3: Retaliation will be available for download on October 9 on Xbox LIVE® and the Origin™ client software and on PlayStation® Network in North America on October 9 and in Europe on October 10. In order to properly install the Mass Effect 3: Retaliation pack, users must also download and install the latest patch. The entire pack will include:

New "Hazard" Versions of Existing Maps – Wage war across six maps as a regular rotation of Firebases will be introduced to different hazards and traps. Survive the onslaught of Acid, Lightening, Meltdowns, Sandstorms, Swarms and Whiteouts!

New Deadly Enemy Faction – Prepare to face off against the Collector Praetorian, Scion, Abomination, Trooper, and Captain. Reports have also come in that Cerberus has enlisted the Dragoon to their ranks and the Geth are deploying new Drones to the battlefield.

New Unlockable Weapons – The Collectors have also brought deadly new weapons to the fight: the Collector Assault Rifle, Sub-Machine Gun, and Sniper Rifle. Unlock these weapons and new equipment upgrades to build to your arsenal.

New Class Kits to Unlock – A host of new characters have joined the war to fight this new threat, including the Turian Havoc Soldier and Turian Ghost Infiltrator. Additional class kits will be added as the weeks progress.

New Powerful Upgrades – Outfit your weapons with three new ammo modifications and fortify your gear with five unique upgrades to defeat even the toughest foes.

New Multiplayer Challenge Feature – Think you are the best soldier in the Alliance? Make sure to track your progress in the new "Challenges" database. Complete various multiplayer assignments and feats of strength to unlock titles and banners to display in-game, and then compare your progress against your friends.

As part of the Mass Effect 3 Galaxy at War** system, success in the cooperative multiplayer experience in Mass Effect 3 links back to the player's single-player campaign. Gaining control over each theater of war will increase the player's Galactic Readiness Rating, and in turn, can influence the player's overall experience. Participation in the Mass Effect 3 Galaxy at War feature is optional.

The Mass Effect franchise is one of the most highly decorated series in the history of games, having earned over 300 awards from critics around the world. Mass Effect 3 launched in March 2012 to universal critical acclaim, receiving over 90 perfect scores. For more information on Mass Effect 3, please visit http://masseffect.com, follow the game on Twitter at http://twitter.com/masseffect or "like" the game on Facebook at http://facebook.com/masseffect. Press assets for Mass Effect 3 can be found at www.info.ea.com.